What type of camera could this be ?

[njwc]

A few days ago in Norfolk we passed a camera mounted on a tripod on the pavement, next to plain white van which had a small sign in front of it saying it was a 'safety camera'.

The operator didn't appear to be in uniform although he had a fluorescent jacket on so I cant be 100% about that, and the camera was facing the oncoming traffic

I'm fairly sure it wasn't an LTI 2020 because it didn't appear to have the double lenses , and because it was mounted at waist height and the operator appeared to be looking at it rather than through it. All the 2020's I've seen on tripods have been at head height, presumably so they are easier to align

As we got just in front of it my wife said she thought she saw a flash (although I didn't notice this so wonder if it was just sunlight reflecting) and I thought I saw the operator write something down.

So, any ideas what this might have been ? I did wonder if it was ANPR but would it have had a 'safety camera' sign in front of it. Are there any speed cameras which can work without the operator needing to touch them ?

[xstian]

They use those cameras to try and catch the mutant ditch dwellers. If you have ever watch "The hill's have eyes" you will know what I mean.

[Cooperman]

It might be a local 'Speedwatch Vigilante'. We have them in Cambs, and a right bunch of pr**s they are too.
If they say you are over the limit you get a letter from the Old Bill telling you that either you or the driver is 'naughty'.

[rewc]

A mini Gatso as used in Dorset perhaps

[njwc]

Cooperman said:

It might be a local 'Speedwatch Vigilante'. We have them in Cambs, and a right bunch of pr**s they are too.
If they say you are over the limit you get a letter from the Old Bill telling you that either you or the driver is 'naughty'.

It might be although I think it's unlikely because whenever I've seen them they tend to be at least two pensioners with a handheld gun, a couple of garden chairs to sit on and a nice flask of tea or coffee. and are usually preceeded by community speedwatch signs.

This chap was standing on his own with a van parked next to him

rewc said:

A mini Gatso as used in Dorset perhaps

Which way do these face ? - I thought they took photos of the rear as cars go past , although I'm willing to be proved wrong about this

It was on my side of the road and the operator was standing behind it as I approached, so I think it was pointing towards me, and it looked like he was checking something on the top or back of it. The tripod seemed about same height as the mini-gatsos that I have seen though.

Are there any other camera types that might fit the bill ?

[jbsportstech]

rewc said:

A mini Gatso as used in Dorset perhaps

With a photo its hard, could be dvla camera they normally have a silver car mostly marked dvla but not always. Did it have an amber light/beacon?

[njwc]

By a complete fluke I happened to cycle past what looked like a similar speed trap operator getting into a van on the outskirts of my village this evening.

Unfortunately he looked like he'd just packed up but the van looked the same (plain white, the size of a small hatchback), was parked is a good spot to catch people, and he had a reflective tabard which said something like Community Traffic Officer on the back. If I'd been 5 minutes earlier I could have had a closer look at what he was doing so its quite frustrating

Obviously I'm assuming he'd been doing the same job using the same sort of equipment, but does the Community Traffic Officer logo mean anything or help to identify the camera I saw last week? I've not heard of these officers before.